Maddie Whitaker
Finn never considered the logistics of running from the cops. Just like he never considered bank robbing until some bets went south a couple years back. You just put on a hoodie on and drive fast, right? It’s when roadblocks are installed on every street leading out of town that you have to rethink your exit strategy. That’s why Finn, knowing a getaway car wasn’t an option, found himself trying to navigate the forest on the edge of town, eventually stopping at an isolated cottage.
Running short on time and patience, Finn pounded on the wooden door until it swung open to reveal an older woman.
“Morning ma’am! I hope this isn’t too much of a bother, but I’m afraid I’m in need of some assistance. I’m also short on time, so if we could make this speedy that’d be great. How well do you know your property?”
The woman’s eyebrows drew together as she cautiously surveyed the stranger. “Um…pretty well. I’m the park ranger of the area, but I’m not sure if I know the exact lines. Why?”
At her answer, Finn plunged his hands in his pockets and formed them into fists, physically revealing his desperation.
“My car happened to break down up the road and I tried walking to the nearest gas station, but I seem to have gotten turned around. My mechanic’s in the next town over if you don’t mind directing me over the county line.” Aware of his horribly constructed lie, Finn inwardly cringed. He just needed a way out; he wasn’t trying to win an Oscar.
The woman fiddled with the cuffs of her robe, processing the information. Her eyes narrowed and her lips faltered, leading Finn to believe she saw right through his lies. But that wasn’t why she was fighting a smile.
“You see that path up ahead? Where the tree line clears?” Finn followed her eyes and nodded. “Follow it for about 100 feet, then turn right. You’ll see an older-looking tree with a ring of yellow paint around the trunk. Knock 3 times and you’ll be led out of town.”
“Wait a minute. Are you pulling my leg, right now? Knock on a tree?”
“Yes. Now, we don’t have time to argue. You don’t want anyone to steal that car of yours, do you?”
“Car? What car? Oh! Yes, yes, my car. This is much appreciated, ma’am, thank you!”
After following the woman’s directions, Finn raised his fist to strike the bark of the yellow-ringed tree three times. At first, he was met with silence, leading him to believe the park ranger chose to pull one over on the random man that showed up at her door. The prospect of this plan not working caused Finn’s heart rate to increase as police sirens sounded in the distance. He chose not to think about how ridiculous he looked standing in front of a tree in the middle of nowhere waiting for something to happen, and instead prayed to a God he didn’t believe in that this works. Finn’s train of thought was brought to a grinding halt as the ground under his feet started to shake, causing the leaves and pebbles to bounce and scatter in the wind roaring around him. Tearing his eyes away from the ground, Finn couldn’t believe he was seeing a hole start to form in the center of the tree, right below the yellow ring. The expanding hole was filled with a purple-blue color that seemed to be moving, almost like it was liquid. Finn took a step back from the tree and looked around him, silently asking his non-existent audience if they were seeing this too. As he turned back around, the hole was now almost as wide as the trunk, big enough for him to take a step through. Realizing there must be a reason for this massive glowing hole in the middle of this tree, Finn tentatively reached out his hand to test a theory. He was proved correct as his fingers began to move past the surface of color, disappearing and breaking through to an unknown space. Finn pulled his arm back and, upon inspecting his unharmed hand, decided to test his luck. Raising his foot at an indetectable speed, Finn took a step into the hole. Once having a strong footing in this other world, his whole body followed. His other leg, his right arm, his left arm, then his torso, and finally his head broke through the swirling indigo. Finn opened his eyes that he didn’t even know were closed to see a forest identical to the one he just left behind. Confused, he turned back around only to find the same yellow-ringed tree devoid of any hole. He circled the tree frantically, palming and pushing the bark as he realized he wasn’t returning anytime soon. This new world seemed grayer, staler almost. The colors of the trees were less bright, and it was eerily quiet. But, as he noticed the lack of police sirens, Finn wasn’t as terrified of his new surroundings. Sure, a suspicious park ranger referred him to a portal that apparently took him to another dimension, but at least he wasn’t going to jail. Orange wasn’t his color.